Apparatus for cleaning gun barrels



Aug- 12, 1952 H. K. COOPER APPARATUS Foa CLEANING GUN BARRELS Filed Aug. 20, 1948 Patented Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT o-FFIL'CE' 9 i Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus'for cleaning gun barrels and more particularly to appara` tus to facilitate removing copper deposits from that type of gun barrel which is large, cumbersome, and difficult to dismantle.'

Heretofore; various devices and y methods' have been used in an attempt to safely'and rapidly re-v move copper deposited inthe bores of large calibre gun barrels. Such schemesincludef mechanical tools, special decopperingcharges fired from the gun, leadedammunition,wire brushing, and lapping: Howevenl there are many attendant dis'- adv'antages in the useofthe above'nflentioned de` Vices and methods. In the' use of mechanical means,A such asbroaches, reamers; etc.; there is the obvious danger of injury to the riiiingl of the gun barrels. To minimize this danger, the process must of necessity be very slow'. Disadvantages of the decopperingcharges'and'of the leaded'animuntion are thehigh costiof producingthese items and the added factor of expendability. Another disadvantage of these methods is that the gun barrel must' be mountedv and in condition for use. Lapping and Wire brushingto remove copper deposits are oftheirveryinatureslow and tedious and are therefore limited inusetolgunsI which are dismantledor' in the repair shops? It isY anV object 'of'thi'sf invention to provide" an apparatus for cleaningandI'removingiicopprdee posits 'from gun barrels Without `the'"attendant dsi advantagesk of i' theprio'rmetho ds' "and idevices. V

Another object of thisfinventon' is toi provide ari-apparatus Whi'chcanhe'- used-itc clean a'iid'de-4 copper gun barrels 'Without removingthe'bairls fromthe gun;

Another object'of v this invention istopi'vide anapparatusl for decopperinglgiin -barielsftvliich requiresno great skill `'onfthelpart ofi-the operatori Another objectvo'ffltlii-s' invention; is/tof-prvide anlapparatus for deco'pperinggun-'barrels which is rapid in-actioniand'fwhichf cannot 'injure the riingof the gun barrel.`V

AV fur-ther objectl vof this inventionis-toprovide an apparatus whereinthe decopperii'lg'A of 'a *gun barrel 'is accomplishedwith-l dispatch# and 'at rela-A tively small costi f Other vobjects and many 'of the att'endaitA advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as -the v'same becomes; betterl understood by referenceto the `following description;

The4 apparatus 'of Vthis invention comprises gen-A erally a'pair' of elongate tanks whichvcontain'; respectively, cleaning liquid and neutralizer.' The tanks'are secured together by'a frontixnountng member having at its bottom an inverted'saddle portionv forrned so' as to" seati over' a`= gunt barrel* near Aits discharge endl.4 A saddle'sliap'ed cla'mj'iing.` plate disposed beneath the-gunfb`arrel andabutting the mountingmernher to which itis'bolt'ed serves to clamp the tanl'stofthel discharge-'end' of i the barrel.

A rear, or'breech, mounting'fplatfis secured transversely beneath said tanks,` the breechmounting plate' havi'ngian invertedsa'ddle" for seatingu over the'- barrel near'l`its breech'.` 'A 'Uf clamp is secured to the breech-irrunting-plateand coacts With the-"breechsaddltd clamp the tanks tothel breech' endo'f the barrel." An -eX-'" pansible'plugis providedfr-'f sealing thefv breech end of th barrel `duringthe cleaning operation.-

A cover plate to close the discharge end of the?" barrel isbOlted tothe clampingrplateand Vfront mounting member toeifctively seal.th'efgunt barrel andl retain liquid-I A tube;- -servingl as a liquid inlet conduit, extends through thefc'over plate` at its! center', and terminates Within theil barrl'nar 4the fbiechendl This inl-et tlbe'cl; muniates by means of inlet-conduits Wlththe pair of tanks n'eartheir `respectivelootton'is;-` air inlet -conduitis connect'dfto the liquidf-inlet and serves? selectively" to f agitatef the lidui'dl -or eject vit from Wthn'th barrel ilitofth tanker A` valve lis provided vvin the*4 air conduit*to'"pe`1.-r'r`1.itj increase ordecrase of airfiiotv.` Y

Near thetopoif the cover plate islo'cated an air vent conduit which extends v'aboveth'eliduid the 'pairof tanks near the respective l"topsgwhich' serves to -reti1rn"the liq theretoil Suitable valves are provided in bot-htlfreV ,inlet-land--outletf conduits for selectivelyconnectingeither of -the tanks to either feediliduid't orreceiveli-duid freni" the A barrel. l

In operation; the gunf'breech is sealed vvith the' plus.v Cleaning' liquid-*is permittedl to iiotvv the barrel from the'cleaning-liquid tank through the inlet-'conduit communicating with trie bottn of the tank'and the inlettubefwithin thelha'rl l." At this point; thereturnconduitto the cleaning tank is'closed, and both the :inlet and; returncoduit of the neutraliz'er' tank are closed," While the air vent is opened toY the atmosphere. Gravity flow of cleaningliquid llsfthe glirl' bai'rel anda stream of air is 'introduced through the 'inlet `tube to agitare the cleaningliiquidiwithitne, barrel. The agitating air escapes from lthe barrel through the vent conduit. Thecleaning liduidis'pemitted to remain in the barrel with`v` constant air agi-l tation for periods of time proportional to the thickness of the copper coating to be removed.

Upon completion of the decoppering period, the vent conduit is closed to the atmosphere, the inlet conduit is closed, and the return conduit from the bottom of the cover plate to the top of the cleaning yliquid tank is opened. Air from the air conduit builds up pressure in the gun barrel and thereby forces the cleaning liquid out of the barrel through the return conduit and through a filter in the top of the cleaning liquid tank. Both tanks are Vented to the atmosphere to prevent pressure build-up. The return phase of the cycle can be accelerated by increasing the air flow into the barrel.

When the cleaning liquid has been expelled, the return conduit to the cleaning tank is closed and the vent conduit is again opened to the atmosphere. The inlet conduit from the neutralizing tank is opened. Neutralizing liquid is permitted to ow into the barrel and a cycle similar to that of the cleaning cycle is eiected. When theneutralizer has been returned to its tank, the cover plate is loosened, the expansible plug is removed, and upon removalof the clamping plate and U bolt from the front and rear mountingr members, respectively, the apparatus can be readily removed from the gun barrel.

A preferred embodiment of the instant invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective ,view of the instant invention showing it mounted on a gun barrel;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the instant invention to illustrate the flow of liquids; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, partial sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, numerals II and I2 designate a tank for cleaning liquid and a tank for neutralizer liquid, respectively. The tanks I I and I2 are secured together by a front mounting member I3 having at its bottom an inverted saddle portion I4 formed so as to seat over a gun barrel I5 near its discharge end. A saddle shaped clamping plate- I6 disposed beneath the gun barrel I5 and abutting the mounting member I3 to which it is bolted, serves to clamp the tanks II and I2 to the discharge end of the barrel I5. A rear mounting member I1 having a saddle portion I8 and a hoop I9 engages the barrel adjacent its midsection.

- -An expansible plug 2l is provided for sealing the breach end of the barrel during the cleaning and neutralizing operation. In the preferred embodiment of the plug is adapted from a dummy shell of a suitable size.

A cover plate 22 is provided to close the discharge end of the barrel and is bolted to the clamping plate I 6 and the front mounting member I3- to seal the gun barrel against escape of liquid. A tube 23, serving as a liquid inlet conduit, extends through the cover plate 22 at its center, and terminates within the barrel I5 near the breach end. Inlet tube 23 is'provided with a plurality of spacing lugs 24, which keeps it centered within the bore of the barrel I5., The inlet tube 23 communicates by means of inlet conduits 25 and 26 with the bottoms of the tanks II and I2, respectively. Valves 21 and 23 are provided in the conduits 25 and 26, respectively, for selectively connecting either of the tanks I I or I2 to feed liquid to the barrel I5.

An air inlet conduit 29 from a source of air under pressure (not shown) is connected to the liquid inlet, and serves to introduce agitating and expelling air into the barrel. A valve 3I is provided in the air conduit 29 to permit increase or decrease of air flow into the barrel.

Near the top of the cover plate 22 is located an air vent conduit 32 which extends above the liquid level in the barrel and which can ybe closed to the atmosphere by means of a valve 33. At the bottom of the cover plate 22 is an outlet conduit 34 communicating by means of the outlet conduits 35 and 36 with the tanks II and I2, respectively, at their tops. The outlet conduits 35 and 36 serve to return the liquid to the respective tanks. Suitable valves 31 and 38 are provided in the conduits 35 and 36, respectively, for selectively connecting either of the tanks t0 receive liquid from the barrel.

At the top of the tanks the outlet conduits 35 and 36 discharge the liquid into the lter chambers 39 and 4I, respectively, where the liquid is filtered by a screen 42 (Fig. 3). Air vents 43 are provided in each tank to prevent pressure build-up in the tanks.

Operation In operation, the breech is rst sealed with the plug 2l. Valve 21 is opened and cleaning liquid is then permitted to flow into the gun barrel I5 from the cleaning tank I I through the inlet conduit 25 communicating with the bottom of the tank and the inlet tube 23 within the barrel I5. At this time, the valve 31 of the cleaning liquid return conduit 35 is closed, and both the inlet valve 28 and the return valve 38 of the neutralizer tank are closed, while the air vent 32 is opened to the atmosphere. Gravity flow of cleaning liquid fills the gun barrel and a stream of air is introduced from the air conduit 29 through the inlet tube 23 to agitate the cleaning liquid Within the barrel. The surplus agitating air escapes from the barrel I5 through the vent conduit 32. The cleaning liquid is permitted to remain in the barrel with constant air agitation for periods of time proportional to the thickness of the coating to be removed.

Upon completion of the decoppering period, the vent conduit 32 is closed to the atmosphere by means of the valve 33, the inlet conduit 25 is closed by means of the valve 21, and the return conduit 35 from the outlet conduit 34 at the bottom of the cover plate 22 to the top of the cleaning tank II is opened by means of the valve 31. Air from the air conduit 29, by building up pressure in the gun barrel, displaces and thereby forces the cleaning liquid out of the barrel I5 through the return conduits 34 and 35 into the lter chamber 39 through the lter 42 and into the cleaning fluid tank II. The return phase of the cycle can be accelerated by increasing, by means of the valve 3 I, the air flow into the barrel.

When the cleaning liquid has been expelled,

the return conduit 35 to the cleaning tank is closed and the vent conduit 32 is again opened to the atmosphere. The inlet conduit 26 from the neutralizing tank is opened by means of the valve 28. Neutralizing liquid is permitted to flow into the barrel where it is agitated and returned to the tank I2 in a cycle similar to that of the cleaning cycle.

After the neutralizer has been returned to its tank I2, the cover plate 22 is loosened, the expansible plug 2| is removed, and upon removal of the clamping plate I6 and U clamp I9 from the front and rear mountingr members I3 and I 1, respectively, the apparatus can be removed from the gun barrel.

Obviously many modifications` and variations;

l. Apparatus for cleaning gun barrels com-` prisingapair-of elongate tanks adapted to contain,VJ respectively, cleaning liquid and neutralizer,. a front mounting member secured transversely, beneath said tanks having. therebelow an inverted saddle portion adapted to seat over a gun barrel near the discharge end thereof, a saddleshaped clamping plateadapted to be disposed beneath the barrel and said portion, means for securingl said plate to said portion thereby to clamp saidtanks to the discharge end of the barrel, acover plate adapted to close the discharge end ofthe barrel, bolting means extendbetween said cover plate and said clamping plate and saddle portion eiective to clamp said cover. plate .over the end of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid inlet conduit extending through said cover platev at its center, adapted to terminate withinvthebarrel near the breech thereof; and communicating with said tanks near their respective bottoms, an air inletconduit connected to said liquid inlet conduit for injecting agitating air intoV the liquid in the barrel, valve meansinsaid air inlet conduit, an air vent conduit extending through said cover plate near the top,v thereofl and being open to atmosphere at a pointv above the barrel, valve means in said airE vent conduit, an outlet conduit extending through said coverplate near thebottom thereof andcommunicating with said tanks near the respectivetopsV thereof, valve means disposed in saidinlet and outlet conduits for selectively connecting either of said-tanks to feed liquid to or recevefliquid from thebarrel, a breech mounting memberl secured transversely beneath said tanksv having therebelow an inverted saddle portion adapted to seatover the gun barrel near the breech-thereof, a U clamp secured to said breech saddle for clampingmsaid tanks to the breech end ofthe barrel, and an expansible plug for sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation.

2. Apparatus for cleaning gun barrels comprising a pair of elongate tanks adapted to contain, respectively, cleaning liquid'and neutralizer, a front mounting member secured transversely beneath said tanks having therebelow an invertedV saddle portion adapted to seat over a gun barrel` near thedischarge end thereof, a saddle shaped clampingplate adapted to be disposed beneath the barrel and said portion, means for securing said plate to said portion thereby to cla-mnsaidj tanks to the discharge end of the barrel, acover plate adapted to closethe discharge en d--of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid-inlet conduit extending througn said cover plateat its center, adapted to terminate WithinV the barrel near the breech thereof, and communicating with saidtanks, an air inlet conduit communicating with the liquid inlet-conduit for injecting agitating air into the liquid 1n the barrel, an airvent conduit extending through said cover plate near the top thereof and being open to atmosphere at a point above the barrel,

ani outlet conduit extending: through the coveriplate and communicating with. said tanks,l valve4 means disposed', in said-inlet'and outlet conduits: for selectively connecting eitherfof saidV tanksto feedliquid. to or receive'v liquid from the barrel, a

breech mounting member secured transversely beneath said tanks havingl therebelow an in verted saddlev portion adapted to seat over the.- gun barrel near. the. breech thereof; a. U. clamp.

secured to said breech saddle; for clamping` said tanks; to the breechend ofthe barrel, and an.V expansible plug for: sealingthe breech: end .of thei barrel during the cleaning operation.`

3. Apparatus for cleaning; gun barrels com,-

prisingza' pair ofv elongate tanks adapted to. coni--A tain, respectively, cleaning; liquid and neutraliser,

affront mounting member securedtransversely; beneathsaid tanks havingtherebelow an invert--v ed saddle portion adapted to seatvr over.v a. barrelnearthe discharge end thereof, a saddle; shaped clamping plate adapted. to; be. disposed beneath the barrel` andv said portion, rneansion` securing said plate.- to saidV portion thereby: toy

clampV said tanks to the discharge end of thebarrel, a cover plate adapted to closet. the: dis-` charge end of the barrel to contain liquidtherein, a liquid inlet. conduit extending through said-y cover plate, adapted ,to 4terminate Within the bar.- rel near the breech thereof, and communicating withsaid tanks, an air inlet conduit communieating. with the liquid inlet conduit for injecting;` agitating air into the liquid in the barrel,4 an:.airV

vent conduit extending through saidcover plate near the top thereof andv being-open to. atmosphe're at apoint'above` the barrel, an outlet. conduitextending throughthe cover plateandl communicating with said tanks, valve.` meansV disposed in said inlet and outlet conduits rf'orzselec-v tively connecting either of said tanks to' feed liquid to or receive liquid from the barrel, and aplug for sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation. l

4. Apparatus for cleaning gun barrels com prising a pair of elongate vtanks adaptedlto contain, respectively, cleaning liquid and neutralizer, means for securing said tanks tothe barrel, a

cover plate adapted to close-thev discharge endv of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid inletconduit adapted to terminate Within thel barrel near thebreech thereof and-communicating with said tanks, an air inlet conduit communicating-'With the liquid inlet conduit for injecting agitating air into the liquid inthe barrel, an air vent conduit extending through saidcover plate near the top thereof and beingy open'to atmosphere at av point above the barrel, an outlet conduit extending through the cover plate and communicating with' said tanksvalve meansdisposedin said inlet and outlet conduits forselectively connecting either ofsaid tanksk tofeed. liquid to or receive liquid fromthe barrel, and a plug-forYV sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation.

5i. Apparatus` for cleaningv gun barrels comprisingn an elongatev tank adapted to contain cleaningf'liquida front mounting' member secured transversely beneath said` tank having therebelow an inverted saddle portion adapted to seat over a gunbarrel near the discharge end thereof,` a saddle shaped clamping plate adapted to be disposed beneath the barrel and said portion, means for securing said plateto said portion.

thereby. to clamp saidjtank to the discharge` end ofthe barrel, a cover plate adapted `to close the discharge end of the barrel, bolting means extending between said cover plate and said clamping plate and saddle portion 'effective to clamp said coverplate over the end of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid inlet conduit extending through said cover plate at its center, adapted to terminate Within the barrel near the breech thereof, and communicating With said tank near the bottom thereof, an air inlet conduit connected to said liquid inlet conduit for injecting agitating air into the liquid in the barrel, valve means in ksaid air inlet conduit, an air vent conduit lextending throughv said cover plate near the top thereof and' being open to atmosphere at a point above the barrel, valve means in said air vent conduit, an outlet conduit'penetrating said cover plate near the bottom thereof and communicating with said tank near the top thereof, valve means disposed in said inlet and outlet conduits for selectively connecting said tank to feed liquid to or receive liquid from the barrel, a breech mounting member secured transversely beneath said tank having therebelow an inverted saddle portion adapted to seat over the gun barrel near the breech thereof a U clamp secured tosaid breech saddle for clamping said tank to the breech end of the barrel, and an expansible plug for sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation.

6. Apparatusfor cleaning gun barrels comprising an elongate tank adapted to contain cleaning liquid, a front mounting member secured transversely beneath said tank having therebelow an inverted saddle portion adapted to seat over a gun barrel near the discharge Aend thereof, a saddle shaped clamping plate adapted to be disposed beneath the barrel and said portion, means for securing said plate to said portion thereby to clamp said tank to the discharge end of the barrel, a cover plate adapted to close the discharge end of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid inlet conduit adapted to terminate Within the barrel near the breech thereof and communicating with said tank, an air inlet conduit communicating with the liquid inlet conduit for injecting agitating air into the liquid in the barrel, an air vent conduit extending through said cover plate near the top thereof and being open to atmosphere at a point above the barrel, an outlet conduit extending through the cover plate and communicating with said tank, valve means disposed in said inlet and outlet conduits for alternatively connecting said tank to feed liquid to or receive liquid from the barrel, a breech mounting member secured transversely beneath said tank having therebelow an inverted saddle portion adapted to seat over the gun barrel near the breech thereof a U clamp secured to the breech saddle for clamping said tank to the breech end of the barrel, and a plug for sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation.

7. Apparatus for cleaning gun barrels cornprising an elongate tank adapted to contain cleaning liquid, a front mounting member secured transversely beneath said tank having therebelow an inverted saddle portion adaptedA to seat over a gun barrel near the discharge end thereof, a saddle shaped clamping platel adapted to be disposed beneath the barrel and said portion, means for securing said tank to the barrel, a cover plate adapted to close the discharge end of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid inlet conduit adapted to terminate within the barrel near' the breech thereof and communicating with said tank, an air inlet conduit communicating with the liquid inlet conduit for injecting agitating air into the liquid in the barrel, an air' vent conduit extending through said cover plate near the top thereof and being opento atmosphere at a point above the barrel, an outlet conduit extending through the cover plate and communicating with said tank, valve means disposed in said inlet and outlet conduits for alternatively connecting said tank to feed liquid to or receive liquid from the barrel, and a plug for sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation.

8. Apparatus for cleaning gun barrels comprising an elongate tank adapted to contain cleaning liquid, means for securing said tank to the barrel, a cover plate adapted to close the discharge end of the barrel to contain liquid therein, a liquid inlet conduit adapted to terminate Within the barrel near the breech thereof and communicating with said tank, an air inlet conduit communicating with the liquid inlet conduit for injecting agitating air into the liquid in the barrel, an air vent conduit extending through said cover plate near the top thereof and being open to atmosphere at a point above the barrel, an outlet conduit extending through the cover plate and communicating with said tank, valve4 means disposed in said inlet and outlet conduits' for alternatively connecting said tank to feed liquid to or receive liquid from the barrel, and a plug for sealing the breech end of the barrel during the cleaning operation.

9. Apparatus for cleaning the bore of a cannon barrel, comprising a liquid container, clamping means for engaging the barrel to secure the container thereto, a cover plate for closing the cannon muzzle, a liquid inlet conduit communieating with said tank and adapted to extend within the bore and terminate near the cannon breech, an air inlet conduit communicating withA the liquid inlet conduit for injecting air into the bore, an air vent conduit extending thru the upper portion of the cover plate and terminating at a point above the barrel, an outlet conduit extending thru the cover plate and communicating with said tank for returning liquid from the bore to said tank, and valve means for alternatively connecting said tank to feed liquid or to receive liquid from the bore.

HARRY K. COOPER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Germany A Nov. 29, 1902 

